Florida State 4-H Horse Show
-The Details
The following items should be read and understood by all qualifiers for the State Horse Show:
Accommodations for 2009 - The Hilton Garden Inn will be the official headquarters of the 2008 State 4-H Horse Show. This hotel is off MLK Blvd. near the junction of I-75 and SR 574. Contact information, rates, and cut-off dates are on the accommodations page. If you would rather stay elsewhere, there are several other motels in the vicinity of the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Awards Program- The Horse Show Awards Program will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, at the State Fairgrounds in the Horse Show Complex Pavilion. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the presentation of awards and fellowship of other 4-H'ers, parents and agents from all over the state. We have some excellent awards for the winners, including a scholarship for the top 4-H Horseman of the Year. High point awards will be presented to individuals from each major division (Hunter, Western, Speed Events, and Saddle Seat), as well as overall, and to high point counties. Other awards include:
Gloria Watt Emerald Award will be given to the county (Large and Small) that best conveys a theme through decorations using the following criteria: creative/original interpretation of theme (25%); innovative use of decorations (25%); neatness/attractiveness (25%); and marketing/promoting 4-H (25%). The theme this year is based on Congress’s theme - “Blast from the Past! Florida's Centennial”. County delegations are responsible for disassembling and disposing of decorations at the end of the show and leaving the barn areas in original condition. Please do not use liquid nails or anything else that leaves behind a permanent mark or residue on the facilities. The Fairgrounds will charge $100 per stall damaged by liquid nails or similar products. There is a board along the top of the front side of the stalls that can be used to hang/secure decorations without harming the concrete.
Golden Shovel Award will be presented to the county (Large & Small) that has the neatest and cleanest stall area. Random inspections will be made each day by a committee that will select the winning county. The stall areas will be judged 60% on cleanliness and 40% on neatness. Tack stalls will be included in this competition.
Florida Bred Horse Awards - will be presented to the high point Florida bred horse in each of the four standard categories, courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture. It is important that you indicate if your horse is florida bred on your entry form. You must have verification that your horse was either born or bred in Florida available for leader and agent. No changes or additions will be made after the entry deadline.
Breed Association Awards - You must include a copy of your horse’s AQHA, IAHA, ApHC, APHA, or PFHA registration papers with your entry form to be eligible for these awards. No changes or additions will be made after the entry deadline.
- High Point and Reserve Quarter Horse Awards TBA
- High Point Arabian Award
- High Point Florida Bred Appaloosa Awards TBA
- High Point Paint Horse Award TBA
- High Point Paso Fino Horse Award will go the exhibitor earning the most points on a registered Paso Fino, courtesy of the Paso Fino Horse Association.
Versatility Award will be given to the individual who receives the most points competing AND placing in at least three of the five show divisions (Hunter, Western, Speed Events, Saddle Seat, and Open).
Horseman of the Year Award - Any 4-H’ers interested in the Horseman of the Year Scholarship Award who have not yet applied should see their county 4-H coordinator. The application deadline is June 1st (to the 4-H office). Finalists will be interviewed on Saturday, June 20, at ~4 p.m. in Gainesville. Requirements and procedures for applying for the scholarship may be found in County Agents' "Awards and Recognition" Handbook, section 4.21-D. Information on applying for scholarships can be found online here.
Dallas C. Osborne Horsemanship Scholarship - Area B 4-H’ers are eligible for this award with similar criteria to the Horseman of the Year Scholarship. The application deadline is also June 1st and finalists will be interviewed on Saturday, June 20, in Gainesville after the Horseman of the Year interviews.
Following the Awards Program will be a "social get-together". An adult representative should plan on staying with each 4-H’er (or group of 4-H’ers) until the end of the social. Look for final details in the 4-H Horse Show Program once at the show. Attendees of the awards program and social are encouraged to follow dress code of State 4-H Congress.
Bit Checks - Exhibitors in every division may be subject to random bit checks at any time during the show, whether ready to compete or only schooling. Bits of Timed Event exhibitors only will be checked in the picnic area in front of the show office on Wednesday, July 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you are not arriving until Thursday morning, bits can also be checked at the concession area of the covered arena on Thursday, July 9, from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. All participants in the speed events must have their bits checked for compliance with the 4-H State Horse Show Official Rules before competing.
Campers - A limited number of camp spaces are available. Fee for use of camp facilities is $40 per night for a 30-amp campsite, or $50 per night for a 50-amp campsite. Contact the Florida State Fair Authority at 813-621-7821 extension 246 for reservations. You should make camping arrangements and payments directly with the Fairgrounds and not through the 4-H office. The Fair requires payment (cash or credit, no checks) for the entire stay at the time of arrival. No camping will be allowed in or around the barn or trailer parking area. View the camping procedures on the Fairground’s website.
Cattle Classes - will not be held this year.
Class calls - If you miss your gate call, you will be disqualified from that class. You will not be allowed to work out of order or in a different heat except in the case of conflicting classes. Permission for any changes can only be made by Dr. Johnson. All participants are given Order of Go booklets at check-in; the same Orders of Go showing any recent scratches are posted at the gates of the arenas; and everyone has schedules listing start times and locations. Classes with individual working orders tend to run more quickly than many people think. Just because you are well down a working order, do not assume that you have plenty of time to wait at the barn.
Due to unforeseeable problems with any mechanical device, the PA system and paddock calls over the system must be considered a courtesy. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to be sure that his/her horse is at the gate at the prescribed time. While every effort will be made to maintain a working PA system to carry calls, no protest will be upheld nor will any action be changed on the basis of a PA malfunction alone.
Class Changes - No class changes will be allowed. The only exceptions are if your horse does not meet height requirements or an error is made by the State office. Therefore, when filling out your entry form, be extremely careful that you enter the proper classes. Check to make sure that you clearly indicated which classes you plan to enter, that you entered the correct class for your age and/or your horse’s age, and that you entered in the intended division.
Dressage test will be 2007 Training Level Test 4. The class will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9. Riding times will be assigned. All riders will be assigned a time to ride and that schedule will be included in the Order of Go booklet at check-in. Every effort will be made to schedule times around other classes entered so that potential conflicts will be minimized.
Helmets - In order to participate at the State 4-H Horse Show, helmets MUST meet the proper requirements as stated in the Florida 4-H Horse Show Official Rules - Revised 2009. All riders are required to wear an SEI or SEI/ASTM approved equestrian helmet (with chin harness). At registration, all helmets will be inspected for compliance with rules.
Horse Health/Care/Supplies - There will be a veterinarian and farrier on the grounds during most of the horse show. The feed store on the grounds will be open Wednesday, 7 am-7 pm, and 7 am-5 pm on show days for bedding, hay, etc.
Longeing - Longeing horses in close quarters with many riders schooling their horses can be dangerous to all involved. Suggested areas acceptable for longeing include the open area in front of barns B and C, and the warm-up area behind (north side of) the east show ring. Areas not suitable for longeing are warm up areas near a competition arena, competition arenas when they are open for schooling with other riders present, and other congested areas. If you are longeing in an area that is inappropriate or causing an unsafe situation, a show official may ask you to move elsewhere.
Participation Forms - All participants must have this form to ensure proper medical treatment and discipline. They should have been turned in at your area show. (The forms will be forwarded to the state office by area coordinators.) Youth not traveling with their parents are encouraged to bring another copy of the Participation form with them for use during the trip.
Patterns - Orders of work, heats, patterns, etc. will be posted at least an hour before the applicable class. Patterns will be posted at the information tower and at the scheduled arena. Exhibitors will also be provided with one pattern booklet in the registration packet. It is the responsibility of each contestant to maintain possession of this booklet, or ascertain this information from what is posted.
Pony Measurement - Ponies in classes 1, 10, 11, 20, 39, and 44 will be measured in front of the tower. Times during which ponies may be measured are:
| Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
| Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
| Ponies that are not measured during these times will not be allowed in their classes. |
Regionals - The Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships will be held in Little Rock, Ark on July 29 - August 2. The 42 highest point earning seniors will be eligible to attend the regional horse show and will be announced at the Awards Program. Each person who qualifies and plans to attend Regionals, including alternates, must be represented. All regional entry forms and fees need to be completed and paid during sign-up on Saturday night. Our show will be very close to the entry deadline for Regionals, so please be sure you are able to go if you sign up. Please show consideration to your fellow exhibitors and sign up for Regionals only if you plan to go and participate. If your plans change for any reason, please contact us immediately so an alternate can go in your place.
**Please note that this is a direct conflict with State 4-H Congress. The last day you can cancel your Congress registration and get even a partial refund is July 2. However, the State 4-H Events Office will allow same gender substitutions for Regional qualifiers until Wednesday, July 15. These substitutions apply only to those who had already registered and paid for Congress, competed in the State Horse Show, then qualified for Regionals. Youth who qualified for Regionals will still need to commit to registering for Regionals at the Saturday awards program after the show. So, before it gets to that ‘last minute’ point, everyone who has already signed up for Congress should think about what they might want to do should they qualify for Regionals.
Schooling over Fences - If you have entered an over fences class (classes 43-47) and you would like a practice session, you must indicate so on your entry form by paying the $5 entry fee (see your entry form). No post entries will be accepted. If you pay for schooling and are not in one of classes 43-47, a schooling round will not be granted and no refund will be given. The course will open at approximately 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 9 (exact time TBA after Hunter Hack is completed). Riders will enter the arena five at a time to school at will over the fences. Each group will be allotted five minutes of open practice time in the arena. Groups of five will sign up at the show for when and with whom they want to school. The sign-up list will be at the entry check-in on Wednesday, then at the show office Thursday. You must wear your boots, show number, and safety helmet for the schooling session.
Security - State Fairgrounds security patrols the entire property 24 hours a day. Please post your stall card indicating your name and where you can be reached in case the security guard needs to contact you regarding your horse.
Stalls - Horse stalls are mandatory and there are an adequate number of stalls available at the fairgrounds. No vehicles are allowed to remain on the Horse Show Grounds beyond the unloading time limit of 1½ hours. Stall fees are $55 for use Wednesday through noon Sunday and you will be assigned a stall. Please do not use stalls other than the one assigned to you. Tack stalls may be requested and will cost $55. Depending on actual number of entries, it may be necessary to limit tack stalls per county. Please try to average about three competitors per tack stall. Stalls will not be bedded, but bedding will be available at the feed store on the show grounds (Wednesday 7 am-7 pm, 7 am-5 pm on show days). You may want to bring a fan for your horse.
Please observe all rules of the fairgrounds. It is a privilege to be able to use these facilities.
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Phone: (352) 392-1981 | Fax: (352) 392-5595
Last Updated:
October 26, 2009